Become Better Players

We examine why and how strikers like Diego Costa are so brilliant at coming short to receive the ball and set up play for supporting players. This will help you understand why this skill is so important and how you can coach your strikers to become better at this skill.

Good players play with their heads up. They are aware of where the space is on the pitch, where their players are, where the opposition are. They know what they want to do next with the ball, they have pictures in their heads. They play one, sometimes two or three steps ahead of everyone else.

Improve the technique of turning with the ball. How does Harry Kane drop into space, turn with the ball and unleash a shot or a key pass? Why do players like Ces Fabregas seem to always play in their own space and have so much time on the ball?

Leicester City and England's Jamie Vardy  is a real counter attack threat, because he shows the desire, pace and intelligence to make these key forward runs behind defenders.

A fun and exciting run with the ball, dribbling and ball manipulation game aimed at improving young players ability to dribble with their head up, manipulate the ball and change direction and speed, whilst keeping control of the ball. It's simple to organise and has nice challenges and progressions.

Dribbling situations don't just happen in a game, they have to be created. Use this multi goal, conditioned game to develop and improve passing, support, create space and game related dribbling situations.

Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly spent £2.3 million on a football machine called Footbonaut at Dortmund that was allegedly the secret behind his players foot speed, reactions, ball control and passing accuracy.

Dribbling is one of the hardest techniques to master. It requires an understanding of when and where to dribble. Players need to be positive and brave, as the easy option is always to pass to a team mate, rather than take a chance. If the dribble goes wrong, too often the player attempting the dribble is blamed for being too greedy or not passing.